It's approaching 26 years that I would also be there. Before I led sweatlodge. Before I was given the honor of being a pipeholder. I did not know Hatuey. I had never heard the name of our Taíno Cacique (chief). One of the first to fight back, over 500 years ago. But there, bound, hogtied, being choked out by officers for having the nerve to follow my peoples traditions (believe it or not, my hair), I was given one opportunity to become like the white man. The cops even stopped for a second to demand I look like them, be one of them, but, having just learned but a few words that were once thought lost from my people, and with Hatuey's blood rushing through my veins, laying there, face in the concrete, I spat and shouted out, "it is a good day to die" in Taíno. They gave quite the beat down, I must say. But, much like my great ancestors memory, I'm still here. This resistance, it's in our DNA. #526years #taino #Borikén #boricua #boriqua #Indigenous #hatuey #traditional #warrior #bestrong #ndn #NativePride #nativeamerican #resist #cacique #mmiw #Taino #iam #Resistance #tainopride https://www.instagram.com/p/Boxfdt4h-Vk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ijjihhxqykoq